On the Texans: At long last, No. 1 NFL team resides here

A rugged game in Chicago in which the Danieal Manning-led defense held the Bears to two field goals showed the Texans can win in tough conditions.

A rugged game in Chicago in which the Danieal Manning-led defense held the Bears to two field goals showed the Texans can win in tough conditions.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

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A rugged game in Chicago in which the Danieal Manning-led defense held the Bears to two field goals showed the Texans can win in tough conditions.

A rugged game in Chicago in which the Danieal Manning-led defense held the Bears to two field goals showed the Texans can win in tough conditions.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff

On the Texans: At long last, No. 1 NFL team resides here

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I'm waving the white towel.

I surrender!

After being besieged for weeks by Texans fans suggesting - demanding, actually - that their favorite team be placed at the top of the Chronicle's weekly ranking of NFL teams, I can no longer resist.

The Texans are the best team in the NFL.

They proved it on a nasty night at Soldier Field, where coach Gary Kubiak's team defeated the favored Chicago Bears 13-6 to improve their record to 8-1.

A national TV audience witnessed an impressive performance that, coupled with Atlanta's 31-27 loss at New Orleans, catapulted the Texans over the previously unbeaten Falcons and into the top spot.

There's no way to justify the Texans' not being ranked as the best team in the NFL. They are the league's most balanced team.

Their defense is ranked second, including third against the run and third against the pass. Among the top 11 defensive statistics, they rank fifth or better in nine. They've surrendered only one touchdown in their three-game winning streak.

The Texans also can win by running and throwing. And their special teams have improved dramatically over the last two games.

The Texans have beaten three division leaders - Denver, Baltimore and Chicago. They're undefeated on the road at 4-0.

8-1 start historic here

Thanks to Texans fans I met at the airport in Chicago before we boarded our flight back to Houston. And thanks to Texans fans who sent e-mails and left voicemails. Your messages came through loud and clear: "Put the Texans No. 1 in your rankings."

Right now, it's safe to say we've watched the most successful first nine games in the history of pro football in Houston.

We all know this is the first time the Texans have been 8-1. Now get this: Neither the Oilers nor the Gamblers of the United States Football League ever had an 8-1 record.

And the Texans should be 9-1 because Jacksonville, a team they bombarded 27-7 in the second game of the season, comes to Reliant Stadium with a 1-8 record that includes a six-game losing streak.

The Texans own a two-game lead over every team in the AFC, including a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Ravens.

If the Texans beat New England next month, they'll have a victory over every other division leader in the AFC.

I consider the Patriots the second-best team in the AFC because of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. But the 6-3 Patriots have played five games decided by six or fewer points.

The Texans are so good that only one team - Green Bay - has come within six points of them. And the Packers handed them their only defeat, 42-24.

The Texans deserve kudos from owner Bob McNair on down. Their success starts with McNair, who has been rewarded for not firing Kubiak and showing so much patience after a 6-10 finish to the 2010 season.

So far, so great

Over the last two seasons, the Texans are 19-8, including playoff games. If they beat the Jaguars, they'll be guaranteed of a third winning record in four seasons.

Kubiak, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and the rest of the coaching staff as well as general manager Rick Smith and his personnel department should take a bow for a job well done … so far.